The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional evidence, including medical opinions related to potential toxic exposure claims under the PACT Act.
The deciding factor: Procedural error led to an issue being erroneously docketed. Additional evidence is needed, particularly regarding the Veteran's service in the Army's 160th Special Operations Unit and any TERA exposures that may be relevant to his gastrointestinal disability, rectal bleeding, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, respiratory disability, sinusitis, chronic dry eye, and erectile dysfunction claims.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder strain, bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal disability (including gastroesophageal reflux disease), rectal bleeding, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, respiratory disability (manifested by a chronic cough), sinusitis, left leg restless leg syndrome, right leg restless leg syndrome, right shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, chronic dry eye, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2024
- Citation
- A24057869
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A24057869.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
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